SpaceX lands reusable Falcon 9 rocket after launch

Less than three minutes into the flight, the rocket’s main stage separated as planned, with SpaceX mission control erupting in cheers as live video showed the moves.AFP | August 15, 2016, 09:11 IST

SpaceX successfully landed a reusable Falcon 9 rocket on a floating drone ship at sea early on Sunday after the vehicle had sent a Japanese communications satellite into orbit.

The California-based company's eighth launch this year was part of its ongoing effort to re-use costly rocket parts instead of jettisoning them into the ocean.

It was also the fourth time SpaceX has vertically landed a used Falcon 9 rocket aboard a floating platform at sea.

The white rocket launched under a dark night sky from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 1:26 am. Less than three minutes into the flight, the rocket's main stage separated as planned, with SpaceX mission control erupting in cheers as live video showed the moves.

Around six minutes later, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship, drawing more cheers at mission control